This chapter deals with the structure, function, and perception of Roman cult sites and their integration into a profane environment, as well as several forms of religious architecture and monumentalization. The focus will be on the pragmatics of cult sites and cult images, in both an everyday environment and the celebration of rituals. The systematic introduction in the first four sections will concentrate on Italian precincts and those in the city of Rome dating from the late republic to the middle imperial period (second century bc to second century ad), which are exceptionally well documented. To verify our findings, we shall then look at three specific examples: the extra-urban grove of Anna Perenna, the monumental temple of Apollo on the Palatine, and the Fortuna Augusta temple near the forum in Pompeii. These were chosen because of their diversity of shape and spatial structure, but they are comparable in terms of their common Augustan background. There are several arguments in favor of this very narrow time window: it is a period of political upheaval, and its far-reaching political change from the republic to the principate had an impact on all spheres of life. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that upon closer inspection, the Augustan “cultic restoration” turns out to be a highly innovative reform program. Since the religious landscape of the Augustan age is very well known, thanks to the wealth of information available, the evaluation and classification of the individual examples within their contemporary context are eased considerably.
World History
